The fourth member of a gang which used minicabs to rob hotels has been jailed.

Russell Aljaf, of Marsham Street, Pimlico, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment at Harrow Crown Court on January 3.

The 20-year-old changes his plea four days into his trial to plead guilty to conspiracy to rob, burglary and possession of an imitation firearm.

Three accomplices were previously jailed in April last year for the same crimes.

The first offence took place in Inverness Place, Bayswater, on March 25 last year. The gang had booked a minicab from Aljaf’s home address and got the driver to take them round London.

They robbed another taxi driver at gunpoint in Inverness Place, Bayswater, stealing a mobile phone and car keys.

They then robbed The King Solomon Hotel in Golders Green after threatening staff with a gun.

The minicab driver was unaware of the crimes until he was contacted by police from The Flying Squad investigating.

On March 29, they booked another cab from the Hilton Hotel, in Paddington, to the Kings Hotel, Kings Cross where they threatened a lone receptionist with a gun, stealing £300 in cash.

The minicab was then directed to Igar Hotel in Kilburn where five men got out, one brandishing a gun, and stole a small amount of cash.

The minicab driver realised what was happening and reported to his cab office as the gang fled on foot.

The men went onto rob two further women in the Fulham area on March 30 after openly hatching their plans in the back of another minicab booked from Camden.

The gang tracked down one of the victim’s addresses from her driving licence and drove to her home to rob the house.

Four men were arrested after the driver called police, saying he feared for his life.

Sadiq Bendriss, 20, and Kurrin Bendriss, 19, both of Lanark Road, Maida Vale, were each jailed for eight years in April last year.

Lamin Joof, 21, of no fixed address, was jailed for seven years.

DC Rob McGee said: “I am really pleased that this gang is off London’s streets and no longer able to carry on committing these robberies. The level of violence and the disturbingly blatant way they carried out these crimes clearly demonstrated they had no regard for the law.”